Fire

While each season has a place and a pace, there are a few days in each season where I'm not quite sure what the day is trying to be.  This time of year is one of those times when the leaves have already fallen and we have some gloomy days.  The colors of fall have given way to brown and more brown and it could be my imagination but we don't have as many truly sunny days either.  It is supposed to be the start of the festive season with Thanksgiving gatherings and family visits but it isn't quite festive yet (no snow, no decorations, no lights).  I'm just plain cold and I don't enjoy being outside. 

Well, actually, I do like being outside but only if it's by a fire (see the picture taken by a guest at the winery firepit a week or so ago).

Maybe it's the nice glow with the warm colors, maybe it's the warmth and the great smell or maybe it's because whenever you sit by the fire, people show up.  If you're sitting at a table, it is unlikely that people you don't know are going to just take the seat next to you but sit by the fire, and the chair next to you will be occupied in no time!  Everyone stares at the fire and starts to talk.  Stories are openly shared without pretense or formalities.  Bottles of wine are passed around to fill empty glasses as if we're one big group and everyone takes turn poking the fire or adding more wood.  Folks who were leaving will stop by the fire for a quick warm up and end up staying 'a bit longer'.  Jackets and blankets get shared and before you know it, you've made new friends.  Ah - that is the warmth of the season feeling after all!

Change of pace

The vineyard work is all done for the season.  The wine is in the tanks.  The days are getting shorter and while it is a beautiful fall, the chill in the air tells me we are closer to winter than I'd like.  It's a different pace now - with Halloween just behind us, and Thanksgiving right around the corner, the year will be over before we know it.  The challenge for this time of the year is to stay active and yet, not overcommit!  With football (and hockey) in full swing, school activities ramped back up and the list of chores that we didn't get to while we were focused on the vineyard, thinking of what to do next isn't a problem. 

With the clock being turned back this weekend, we are reminded that it will be darker earlier.  We pondered - do we change our hours or will folks still come out Saturday evenings?  We decided to keep our hours the same and add some fun stuff to do - last year we didn't have the indoor space to continue the music through the winter but this year, I think we have a cozy space for folks to gather in so, we've booked music on Saturday afternoons now.  The firepit has always been a draw (and I am sure we will head there right after the music each saturday).  And, as we were clearing another block so we can maybe plant more vines next year, we came across a rockpile so we are moving the rocks over by the pond to build a second, much bigger firepit!  This is the season to gather with friends and family so we figured we'd provide a couple of cozy options!  We certainly enjoy hanging out there so we are looking forward to this season where we can sit and chat with folks as they come in.